Spring-motor for fans and the like.



F. JOHNSTON 6: O. H. LARISON. SPRING MOTOR FOR FANS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1912.

Patented Jan 13,1914.

.aosssas.

FLOYD JOHNSTON AND CLAUDE H. LARISON, OF LANESBORO, IOWA.

SPRING-MOTOR FOR FANS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented Jan.13,191d.

Application filed April 15, 1912. Serial No. 690,869.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FLOYD JOHNSTON and CLA DE H. LAnIsoN, both citizens of the United States, residing at Lanesboro, in the county of Carroll and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spring-Motors for Fans and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to provide an e'lficient spring motor for fans of simple, durable and inexpensive construction.

A further object of our invention isto provide a spring motor of this class with means whereby the life of the motor is greatly prolonged.

One feature of our invention consists in the provision of a simple and efficient gear mechanism whereby the operating shaft is caused to rotate at a high rate of speed while the power shaft rotates at a comparatively low speed.

Another feature which characterizes our invention resides in the provision of a goverrior for regulating the speed of the operating shaft and the provision of a brake for starting and stopping the motor.

The above and other objects, advantages and capabilities of our invention will become apparent from a detailed description of the, accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a central, vertical, sectional view of a device embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same taken substantially on the line 22 of'Fig. 1 lookmg to the right and showing the standard broken away and Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the casing showing the governor and one of the gear wheels.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in detail, we have used the reference numeral 10 to designate .the standard .which may be of any suitable form or configuration. The casing which is mounted on the standard 10 by any suitable means consists of a cylindrical body portion 11,. and two outwardly bulging ends 12 which are secured to the cylindrical body portion 11 by any suitable means, such as the bolts 13. The gear mechanism and motor are operatively supported and housed within the casing. F or mounting the horizontalshafts in the casing we provide a cross-piece or standard 14 set in an oblique position and secured. to

the casing at both ends by any suitable means, such as the rivets shown. Near the center of the standard 14, a shaft 15 is journaled therein at one end and rotatably mounted 1n the bearing 16 in the end of the casing at its opposite end. Rotatably.

mounted on said shaft is a large dished gearwhcel 17, which is provided with a drum 18 formed integrally therewith. A spring 19 is secured at one end to the shaft 15 and at its opposite end to the large gear-wheel 17. Near the'outer end of said shaft is securely mounted a small gear-wheel 20 which is provided with a ratchet wheel 21 formed integrally therewith. A pawl 22 of the usual form is secured to the end of said casing and designed to engage said ratchet wheel 21 to prevent backward turning of said wheel. A bracket 23 is secured to the end of said casing by any suitable means, such as the bolts shown, and is provided with an opening at its upper end in which a short shaft 24 is rotatably mounted atone end and at its opposite end in a suitablebearing in the end 12 of the casing. A small gear-wheel 25 is securely mounted on said shaft and is designed to mesh with the'small gear-wheel 20 on the shaft 15. Secured in any suitable manner to the outer end of the shaft 24 is a crank handle 24% which may be of any suitable form or configuration. Rotatably mounted in the lower end of said casing and standard is a horizontal shaft 26 which is provided with a small gear 27 designed to mesh with the large gear-wheel 17. At the opposite end of said shaft is securely mounted a wormed gear-wheel 28 designed to mesh with the spiral gear formed on the periphcry of the vertical shaft 29, which shaft is rotatably mounted at one end in the bearing 30 in the bottom of said casing and, at

mesh with the spiral gear 83 formed on the peripheryof the horizontal shaft 34, which shaft is rotatably mounted in the standard 14 at one end, and in the bearing 35 in the end of the casing at its opposite end. Said shaft is provided near its outerend with a collar 36, and atits outer end with screw threads to receive a thumb screw 37. A fan wheel 38 which may be of any suitable form or construction is securely mounted on the outer end of said shaft between said thumb screw and collar. When it is desired to use said device for purposes other than operating a fan, all that is necessary. s to remove the fan wheel from the shaft by unscrewing the thumb screw and by replacing thereon a belt or other suitable wheel.

To control the speed of'theshaft 34, we provide a governor 38', which is securely mounted onthe shaft at one end and slidably mounted on a sleeve. 39 at its opposite end. Said sleeve being provided at its inner end with a collar, and at its outer end with an upwardly extending portion, to which is secured in any suitable manner a short arm 40. At the opposite end of said arm is secured a lever 41 which extends outwardly through a suitable opening in the casing 11, and is pivotally mounted near its center on a bracket 42,; said bracket being secured to the casing by any suitable means, such as the bolts shown. At said opening on the casing is mounted a suitable rack provided with notches designed to be engaged by the lever 41, so that said lever may be adjusted for controlling the governor.

For controlling the operative movement of the large gear wheel 17, we provide an external contracting brake which is designed to engage the periphery of the drum on said gear-wheel. The brake consists of a band 43 which is secured in any suitable manner at one end-to the standard 14, and is then passed around the drum on said gear-wheel and secured at its opposite end to the lower end of the lever 44, which lever extends upwardly through a suitable opening in the casing and is pivotally mounted near its center by any suitable means on the standard 14. The brake as shown in Fig. 2 is in its inoperative position and when it is desired to set the brake, all that is necessary is to move the handle. of the lever 44: to the right, thus drawing the band tightly around the drum. The opening in the casing is provided with suitable notches for holding the lever .44 in any desired position.

Assuming that the parts are assembled as described and shown, and it is desired to use our device, the brake is first set to prevent the largelgearqvheel from rotating, the operator then operates the handle'24l ,fwhich rotates the small gear-wheel 24, which gear 50, meshes with the'gear 20 and rotates the shaft 15, thus winding the spring 19. When the spring has been s'ufiiciently wound the operator then releases the handle 24*, the pawl engages the ratchet 21 and prevents backward turning of thh shaft 15. The operator then releases the brake, the large gear-wheel 17 is then rotated by the spring 19, said gearwheel meshes with the small gear-wheel 27 and rotates the shaft 26 and the worm gearwheel, on the outer end of the shaft meshes with the worm gear on the vertical shaft, thus rotating the large worm gear-wheel 32 Which meshes with the worm gear on the horizontal shaft 34, thus rotating the fan or other wheel that may be placed on the shaft 34:. g

It will be seen from this arrangement that we provide a simple and efiicient construction for operating the shaft 34 at an ex traordinary high speed, while the gear-wheel 17 travels at a comparatively slow rate of speed, thus greatly prolonging the life of the spring 19.

While we have herein shown only one spring, it is to be understood that one or more springs may be used, as will be done in practice to suit the desired demand.

The speed of the shaft 34L is controlled by the governor as before described simply by moving the handle to the desired position.

\Vhile we have herein shown only one specific embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that various changes and alterations may be resorted to by those skilled inthe art without departing from the scope of our invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device of the class described, a supporting frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a large dished gear wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft, a coil spring mounted within said large gear wheel and having one of its ends secured at a suitable point on the interior of said gear wheel and its opposite end secured to said shaft, a second shaft rotatably mounted on said frame and provided with a small gear wheel meshing with said large gear wheel, a worm gear wheel securely mounted on said second shaft, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted on said frame and provided with a spiral gear meshing with said worm gear wheel, a worm gear Wheel securely mounted on said vertical shaft, a horizontal driving shaft rotatably mounted in said frame and provided with means at its outer end for detachably mounting a fan or the like, aspiral .gear formed on the periphery of said driving shaft and adapted to mesh with the worm gear wheel of said vertical shaft, means for winding said coil spring for actuating said mechanism, and means mounted on said first mentioned shaft for preventing said shaft from rotating while said larger gear wheel is being operated.

2. In a device of the class described, a supporting frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a large dished gear Wheel ro tatably mounted in said shaft, a coil spring mounted within said large gear Wheel and having one of its ends secured at a suitable point on the interior of said gear wheel and its opposite end secured to said sha ft, a secing with said large gear wheel, a worm gear wheel securely mounted on said second shaft, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted on said frame and provided with a spiral gear meshing with said Worm gear wheel, a worm gear wheel securely mounted on said vertical shaft, a horizontal driving shaft rotatably mounted on said frame and provided with means at its outer end for-detachably mounting a fan or the like, a spiral gear formed on the periphery of said driving shaft and adapted to mesh with the worm gear wheel of said vertlcal shaft, means for Winding and for the purpose described.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe 20 our names this 6th day of April, A. D. 1912.

FLOYD JOHNSTON. CLAUDE H. LARISON.

' \Vitnesses:

J. D. HINKLEY, L. C. DREESE'N. 

